Today is #WorldAIDSDay, a day when the world’s focus is on the fight against HIV/AIDS. There are already a number of medications on the market to help ease symptoms of HIV.According to the World Health Organization, since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began more than 30 years ago, over 70 million people have contracted HIV. No vaccine exists to […]

Pesticide use on commercially grown crops has increased dramatically even more than consumers have been led to believe. According to figures recently released by the Soil Association – the UK’s leading food and farming charity and organic certification body – show the number of chemicals on supermarket vegetables has increased up to 17 fold in the […] […]

Among the hundreds of emails and newsletters that come my way everyday, one quickly caught my attention. In it was an article that talked about companies that do animal testing, a topic I’ve been following for a while. Let me be blunt. I despise that companies do horrendously painful and inhumane testing on defenseless, innocent animals. And […]

Many of you know I was a long time resident of Northern California, a place of beauty and many natural wonders that still holds a special place in my heart. The following is an excerpt from an article I wrote that was recently published online about one of these remarkable public places and the trials and […]

Contrary to assurances by fish farming concerns, thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon have escaped into the Pacific Ocean. They escaped from a damaged net pen at a Cooke Aquaculture fish farm off Cypress Island in Washington’s Puget Sound on Saturday, This has sparked fears that the farm-raised fish could threaten wild Pacific salmon. According to the Washing […]

a much needed break from hectic schedules, to do’s and last minute “critical” projects

spending time either alone wishing you were with loved ones or actually being with them and sometimes wondering what you were pining for

eating way too much food (whether alone or at a big feast) that you may regret the next day (or sooner!)

I may sound a bit jaded but I’m not really. I’ve done all the above and suspect many of you have as well, at some time or other.

This year, I’ll be spending Turkey Day with my family – parents, siblings, nephews and niece. It will be noisy, too much food and a few tense moments thrown in. But no matter what, I’m thankful for it all. After many holidays spent just my dog and me, it’s nice to be able to connect, even have the occasional “sparring” session, as it were. It’s all about family – love ’em, warts, tempers and all.

Whatever you’ll be doing, remember that gratitude – for all things small and large – is a special gift you give yourself and others this time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving. Be back again on the weekend. Come on back and enjoy the holiday!

The Recycling Association of Minnesota has launched its Recycle Your Holidays light strand collection program. Now strands of older holiday lights can be placed curbside in recycling bins and business drop offs throughout the state.

Select retailers are accepting drop-off of these lights until January 10, 2010. Stores are also offering $5 coupons for every strand recycled at their locations.

This pilot program is being tested through Randy´s Environmental Services in Delano, MN to determine the program’s viability.